"Self-Defensive" Antifouling Zwitterionic Hydrogel Coatings on Polymeric Substrates

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Infectious Disease Prevention

Background:

• Biofouling on medical devices like sensors and catheters leads to iatrogenic infections, posing significant risks to patient health.
• Effective prevention of bacterial adhesion and infection on medical device surfaces is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and investigate novel "self-defensive" antifouling zwitterionic hydrogel coatings for polymeric medical devices.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy, antifouling properties, and biocompatibility of these advanced coatings.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate (PSBMA) hydrogel coatings via network interpenetration.
• Assessment of bacterial adhesion resistance, triggered gentamicin sulfate (GS) release in acidic conditions, and hyaluronidase-induced coating degradation.
• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of antibacterial performance and biocompatibility.

Main Results:

• The PSBMA hydrogel coatings demonstrated significant resistance to bacterial adhesion.
• A dual-action mechanism was observed: GS release to kill adhered bacteria and coating degradation to remove them.
• The coatings exhibited promising in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed self-defensive antifouling zwitterionic hydrogel coatings show great potential for application on polymeric medical devices.
• This innovative approach effectively combats biofouling and bacterial infections, improving medical device safety.
• The study highlights a promising strategy for next-generation antimicrobial medical device surfaces.